Fenham residents eye new boost from Wish

Fenham Association of Residents provide young people with a place to go

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FOR four decades its volunteers have reached out to members of the community and offered young people a place to go.

And thanks to Your Chronicle’s Wish Campaign The Fenham Association of Residents has been able to continue supporting its community in Newcastle’s West End.

Last year the group, which was set up in residents’ living rooms in the 1970s, was able to buy equipment for their junior group which struggles to keep up with increasing demand.

Young and old collected Wish tokens for the community centre and in the end they had an impressive 8,584 tokens, walking away with £124.48 of the cashpot.

“It is a constant battle to replace equipment and craft material so it was terrific for the young people,” said project manager Mark Gowland.

“I would say it has been a very difficult time for all charities to fundraise but small neighbourhood-based charities are often forgotten about.

“It is really, really important that small neighbourhood based organisations are given that support because these are the places children and young people come to instead of being on the streets.”

The Fenham Association of Residents has continued to grow since it was created during tough economic and social times.

In 2001 the organisation moved from living rooms and temporary accommodation to its current permanent premises in FAR Community Centre in Fenham. The group has now joined the growing list of community organisations and charities taking part in Your Chronicle’s Wish 2011 campaign.

Once again we are dishing out £50,000 to worthy causes in the region. From sports groups, community organisations to charities and support groups, we want to help you.

To be in with a chance of walking away with a slice of the cash, all groups have to do is register with us by September 27 to receive their welcome pack.

Then start collecting Wish tokens when we begin printing them within the pages of the Chronicle on October 6. The more tokens you collect the bigger your share.

This year the Fenham Association of Residents are hoping to collect even more tokens than last year to go towards laptops.